Conference House Park

On Thursday, December 15, Parks & Recreation
Commissioner Adrian Benepe headed to Staten Island to celebrate the
completion of two major projects in the "Borough of Parks." The day
began at the South Beach Boardwalk where Commissioner Benepe helped
formally open the borough’s newest waterfront restaurant and catering
facility, the South Fin Grill and the Vanderbilt at South Beach.

South Beach and the boardwalk have regained their
glory days," said Commissioner Benepe. "With the opening of the South
Fin Grill and the Vanderbilt catering hall, visitors and local
residents have all the more reason to come down to the boardwalk—any
time of year."

The South Fin Grill and the Vanderbilt at South
Beach catering hall opened their doors to patrons last summer and have
become a popular destination for residents and visitors to enjoy a meal
or attend an event with magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and
Verrazanno Narrows Bridge.

The Vanderbilt catering hall can host up to 400
guests and boasts expansive glass openings showcasing the views of
Lower New York Bay. The South Fin Grill boasts cutting edge modern
interior design and seats about 120 people. During warm weather
visitors can enjoy al fresco dining on the adjacent boardwalk.

Next it was off to Conference House Park to cut the
ribbon on nearly $9 million in improvements to Conference House Park.
Commissioner Benepe was joined by Borough President James Molinaro and
community residents to celebrate the transformation of the historic
265-acre park.

For most of its life, Conference House Park remained
an undeveloped swath of land. Funding for this reconstruction went to
giving the park an identity. An intricate pathway system creates a link
to the citywide network of greenways and connects the historic museum
buildings, while a bicycle path replaces existing paved routes within
the park. Additional work included a new entry drive, pathways, fitness
trails, and a boardwalk that facilitates bird watching.

A handful of historic houses within the park were
also renovated as part of the reconstruction. The visitor’s center,
which will serve as the park’s hub and will eventually host a Native
American educational center, was reconstructed and a new roof was
installed. The nearby Biddle and Conference Houses underwent
landscaping, while structural work was carried out on the Ward and
Rutan-Feltch Houses.

Conference House Park sits on the location where
British General Howe asked Benjamin Franklin to lay down his arms and
not resist the British occupation during the Revolutionary War.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster’s autobiography."